Job Discussion Forums

[kungfuman]

Hi fellow ESLers. I'm going to Vietnam and Cambodia for 3 weeks soon.

My plan is to arrive HCM, stay there a few days then bus it to PP, rest a day, then to Seim Rep. Spend 2-3-4 days there then back to PP and on to sihanoukville for 3-4-5 days.

THEN back to HCM and up to Nha Trang.

I figure 4-5 days in Nha Trang is ok but then I still have another 5-6 days left.

Where else can you recommend? Danag? Hoa an?

I arrive HCM July 9 and depart July 31. me and my girlfriend both have multiple entry Vietnam visas.


thanks!

[ExpatLuke]

I've not been to Nha Trang yet. Hopefully going next month with my girlfriend. But from what I've heard it's a more touristy version of Danang without as nice beaches. Danang is great if you have a bike. Have you considered Hue, Ha Long, Mui Ne, or Dalat?

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Hi kungfuman,

I'd personally recommend seeing Hoi An and Hanoi as well. From Hanoi it is easy to do day-trips to Halong Bay. Have a safe and enjoyable trip .

[kungfuman]

I was thinking of Hanoi as I wanted to go to Halong Bay but the trip via train from HCM seems long. Thinking about flying North seeing Halong then Danang, then to Nha Tran, then back to HCM at the end.

My return tickets to Shanghai are from HCM but I am considering asking Vietnam Air if they can be changed to fly out of Hanoi and how much it would cost.

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Flights within Vietnam are pretty cheap, especially with Viet Jet, and Danang, Hanoi and Saigon are all well-serviced .

http://www.vietjetair.com/Sites/Web/en-US/Home

These guys are budget as well:

http://book.jetstar.com/Search.aspx

[kungfuman]

I took Vietjet my last trip to Vietnam.

The flight to nha trang from HCM was 2 hours late. That's not so bad.

The return from Nha Trang to HCM NEVER took off. And they were totally dishonest with us. 7 hours later a planeload of people were STILL waiting for the truth. We wound up taking Vietnam Air - at our own cost and landed after midnight. The original flight was 5pm maybe.

We did get credit card refunds a month later but the performance was disgusting on Vietjet. (pretty flight attendants though.)

[1st Sgt Welsh]

That sucks kungfuman. However, it sounds like you were very unlucky. I've flown with Viet Jet, if memory serves, four times and I've never had a drama. I'd happily give them another go.

The problem with budget airlines is that if some flight needs to be bumped, due to too much air traffic or whatever, it is always going to be them. It's a shame really, because budget airlines are pretty much the only ones I fly . Anyway, I know how you feel. I'm never, ever going to fly with those Easy Jet muppets again! Yeah, I know you shouldn't expect too much from them in the first place and, believe me, I didn't. However, much to my astonishment, they were able to lessen even my rock-bottom expectations. It wasn't even so much that they provided the worst service from any airline I've dealt with as that statement would be too generous. They pretty much provided the worst service from any company I've ever dealt with.

[kurtz]

Nha Trang = Filthy, litter filled beaches, large amounts of meathead Russians, ladies who will rob you blind, thieves, liars, cheats; possibly the worst place in Vietnam. Danang and Hoi An are nice, do some more research on alternatives to Nha Trang though.